Campaign seeks to clean up communities

As the springtime approaches, members of Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful hope people will step up efforts to clean their neighborhoods.

STEPHANIE SORRELL-WHITE, Gatehouse New York

As the springtime approaches, members of Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful hope people will step up efforts to clean their neighborhoods.

“When the snow melts, you’re going to see the need,” said Bob Albrecht, committee chairman.

Albrecht also noted it’s not just about cleaning up.

“We want people to take pride in their community,” he said.

Albrecht talked about the committee’s intention to participate in the nationwide Great American Cleanup project through May 31. The project will allow for families, groups, businesses and other organizations to volunteer to clean a section of their community.

Tanya Davis, committee executive director, said it’s not just about cleaning up litter.

“It also encourages you to think of other ways to be good environmental stewards,” she said.

“After 20 years (with the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority), it’s still so frustrating to me that we’re still talking about litter,” said Executive Director William Rabbia.

Rabbia talked about the advances that have been made with streamlining recycling in communities over the past two decades, but there is still the problem of littering.

“What’s great about the Great American Cleanup is that the clean up can be in your own backyard and it raises environmental awareness at the same time,” he said.

Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful is a six-county private nonprofit that works to create sustainable communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound, according to the release. It is part of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District and is an affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful organization.